Maremy's Blog

Yes, I am finally employed! I had a job interview yesterday at the Stratford-Perth Museum at 11:00am. At 3:30 that afternoon, I received a call from the curator saying the job was mine! Of course, I accepted the offer of employment.

It's a 32 week contract and is 21 hours per week. I wish it was more hours (and was permanent) but this is a good start! In the museum world, contracts are often extended or just become permanent positions. Here's an example from when I worked at the Huron County Museum:

• May 2005: I'm hired back for my second summer. Employment is set to be until September.
• July or August (I can't remember when): I'm asked to stay on until the end of October. Things aren't so certain after that due to funding.
• Mid-September: The museum is given an extension on a grant they had during the summer to continue on with an inventory of the artifacts in storage. They offer it to me. The grant is supposed to last until December 31, 2005.
• Mid-November: With the Technician going on leave for three months, I'm told there's enough money to keep me around for the winter and keep me on as a summer student for 2006.
  

I know the above situation was not for permanent employment but I know people who have been hired on contract at a museum, and had it made into a permanent job.

Right now, I'm not going to count on the current contract I'm under being extended. But in the back of my mind, I know there is a possibility it could be! For now, I am happy just to be working again at a job I know I'll enjoy!

My job title is Administrative Assistant. Yes, same job title as Jeremy but my job differs a lot from his in that I am working directly with the museum collection more than what he does. Here's what I'll be doing at the Stratford-Perth Museum for the next 32 weeks:

• Assist with collection re-location. Basically, I'll be packing up artifacts in preparation for the museum's move to its new site in October.
• Inputing artifact information from cataloging forms into the computer database.
• Assisting with fund raising/capital campaign. This includes organizing/maintaining files for the capital campaign, writing reports and doing up promotional material.
  
• General administrative duties, including front desk reception and greeting visitors.
• Help out with keeping the museum clean.
• Assisting with education program delivery (this one makes me a little nervous cause I don't have as much experience with this as I do with other parts of my job).
• Other museum work, as needed.

Today was my first day and I have to say, it went quite well! As soon as I got there, I shadowed Jay (the Assistant Curator) as he led one part of an educational program. Next, I helped out Will (the Educational Coordinator) with his half of the program. I accessioned some artifacts and than spent the afternoon on the front desk doing data entry. Tomorrow, I'm going to be working in storage (in the basement) packing artifacts.

Finally, the job search is over (for now, anyway...). Like I said, I'm just happy to be back working again.